FAQ’s

Q) What is rare?

A) Founded in 2001, the rareCharitable Research Reserve is a 1,000+ acre urban land trust and environmental institute in Waterloo Region/ Wellington.

Q) Is rare an acronym?

A) The name ‘rare‘ is not an acronym. In 2004, the Cruickston Charitable Research Reserve was renamed rare as an acknowledgement of the reserve’s history and its mission to discover the most inclusive practices and answers to environmental issues, stewarding the reserve’s diverse network of natural landscapes for ecological integrity and future generations.

Q) Are the trails open to the public?

A) Yes. The trails are open to the public free of charge from dawn to dusk. The Grand Trunk Trail (part of the Cambridge Riverbank Trail system but crosses the rare property) is open all year. The Cliffs and Alvars Trails are open from mid March to mid November. Visit our trails page.

Q) Can anyone attend hikes, workshops or lectures?

A) Yes. All of the events listed in our Events Calendar are open to the public for a nominal fee.

Q) Can I use my bike or bring a stroller on the trails?

A) Due to the fragile ecosystem we work hard to preserve, bikes and strollers are only permitted on the Grand Trunk Trail, Maple Lane, Grand Allee, and Deer Run trails. Thank you for your cooperation.

Q) How is rare funded?

A) We are a charitable organization that relies on grants, individual donations, foundation and corporate support.

Q) Where is the best place to park if I want to hike at rare?

A) Trail Head parking is accessible off of George Street or at 768 Blair Rd. (at the rare ECO Centre)

Q) What is the old stone barn on Blair Road being used for?

A) The Slit Barn has recently been renovated to provide a three-season facility for rare events (including our education programs) and private rentals. Along with the adjacent Resource House, this area is known as the rare ECO Centre – the hub of our Every Child Outdoors environmental programming.

Q) What is happening at Springbank Farm?

A) Springbank Farm is the now the site of Here We Grow! Springbank Farms Community Gardens project. This project is seeing the radical transformation of the farm into educational demonstration gardens. These gardens offer a unique learning opportunity for people to develop an understanding of our environment, and are open to the public.